surgeons

The Doctor is a Life Saver

A Doctor at Heart: The Story of Groundbreaking Scientist and Teacher Vivien Thomas by Joan Schoettler and Steffi Walthall

August 10, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

This man grew up in a family that demanded perfection, he would grow up to graduate with honors, he would lose all his money in the stock market crash, and he would go on to be the man who helped find a cure for blue baby syndrome. He was Vivien Thomas. Oddly enough, though they mention the pay discrepancies, there is not a lot about the racism Thomas would have faced. And though there is the story of how he got his “girls name,” I […]

Never view being a girl as an obstacle

Virginia Wouldn't Slow Down!: The Unstoppable Dr. Apgar and Her Life-Saving Invention by Carrie A. Pearson

December 14, 2022 by BlackRaven 7 Comments

Virginia Wouldn’t Slow Down!: The Unstoppable Dr. Apgar and Her Life-Saving Invention is another read online via Edelweiss that was mostly there. Carrie A. Pearson’s book was more fleshed out than the other sample I read, and perhaps is one of the best biographies of an unknown person I have read. And of course, I will find a copy when it comes out to fill in the plot points missing. Dr. Virginia Apgar would invent a test that would help doctors evaluate newborns and their health, […]

Historical Fiction Featuring Historical Figures Can Be Tricky

March 31, 2016 by sarah_jwh Leave a Comment

This review is for the audiobook version of The Dead Shall Not Rest, by Tessa Harris, narrated by Simon Vance. This is the second in the Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mysteries series. Several years ago I read the first in this series, The Anatomist’s Apprentice, but had no idea there were sequels until the Overdrive algorithm suggested I might enjoy The Dead Shall Not Rest. Dr Thomas Silkstone is a surgeon from Philadelphia studying as an apprentice to a well respected surgeon and anatomist in […]

bjornsnipe
on “Eleanor, by the wrath of God, queen of the English.”
Thank you! What made it worse, is that I went into the book really hoping it would be enjoyable.
Eve
on Such Promise, So Disappointing
Helpful review!
Emmalita
on “Eleanor, by the wrath of God, queen of the English.”
Happy Cannonball, even if it’s a 2 star review. The review is delightful, clearly more so than the book.
KimMiE"
on My most surprising 5-star read of the year (also Cannonball, finally)
This sounds amazing. I generally restrict my true crime to pre-20th century, but this is going on my TBR. Congrats...
Jen K
on My most surprising 5-star read of the year (also Cannonball, finally)
Happy Cannonballs! I absolutely loved this one - I usually also don’t do much true crime so I loved how...

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